Indesign Scripting: Loop through Layers

[big_smile]

I am trying to make a script that will:

Loop through all layers of a document.

Add the unlocked layers to array

Loop through this array and paste in place on each layer.

I am not sure how to loop through all layers.

Here is my script (I have used ??? to represent where the loop through all layers part would go):

// JavaScript Document

//Set up an array to hold unlocked layers

var layercollection = [];

//Loop through Layers and unlocked layers to the layercollection array

for (i = 0; ? ? ? i++) {

          app.activeDocument.activeLayer = app.activeDocument.layers.itemByName( ? ? ? );

          if (app.documents[0].layers. ().locked) == false;

          layercollection.push(layers.itemByName())

}

// Loop through layercollection array and paste in place

for (i = 0; i < layercollection.length; i++) {

          app.activeDocument.activeLayer = app.activeDocument.layers.itemByName(tl);

          app.pasteInPlace(); //Paste

}

Can someone help me complete my script.

Thanks!

[Peter Kahrel]

One loop is enough:

for (i = 0; i < app.activeDocument.layers.length; i++) {
    app.activeDocument.activeLayer = app.activeDocument.layers);
    app.pasteInPlace();
}

Peter

[SureshRaji]

Hi

Peter is right. You have add your condition in this code:

for (i = 0; i < app.activeDocument.layers.length; i++) {
    if(app.activeDocument.layers.locked == false) {
        app.activeDocument.activeLayer = app.activeDocument.layers;
        app.pasteInPlace();
    }
}

Suresh

[Laubender · Accepted solution]

Did you all test your solutions in a Real World Scenario?

Theoretically it should work this way (if we neglect that a layer could be invisible, too), but even without the problem of  invisible layers app.pasteInPlace() prefers to paste into the original layer, if the option "Paste Remembers Layers" is checked.

So I would recommend to do the following:

var oldPasteRem = app.clipboardPreferences.pasteRemembersLayers;
//uncheck "Paste Remembers Layers"
app.clipboardPreferences.pasteRemembersLayers = false;
for (i = 0; i < app.activeDocument.layers.length; i++) {
    //Maybe the user does not want objects pasted to invisible layers: 
    if(app.activeDocument.layers.visible == true && app.activeDocument.layers.locked == false) {
        app.activeDocument.activeLayer = app.activeDocument.layers;
        app.pasteInPlace();
    };
};
//Restore the old condition:
app.clipboardPreferences.pasteRemembersLayers = oldPasteRem;

Uwe

[Peter Kahrel]

Absolutely check for layers being locked and the state of the clipboard preferences. I was just concerned with the loops.

Peter

[big_smile]

Thanks for all the useful and helpful answers. The script Laubender posted worked perfectly, and I have learnt a lot about scripting from it.

Indesign Scripting: Loop through Layers